Shrilankite Inclusions in Garnets from Kimberlite Bodies and Diamondiferous Volcanic–Sedimentary Rocks of the Yakutian Kimberlite Province, Russia

Abstract

Pyrope–almandine garnets (Mg# = 28.3–44.9, Ca# = 15.5–21.3) from a heavy mineral concentrate of diamondiferous kimberlites of the largest diamond deposit, the Yubileinaya pipe, along with kimberlite- like rocks and diamondiferous volcano–sediments of the Laptev Sea coast, have been found to contain polymineral, predominantly acicular inclusions, composed of aggregates of shrilankite (Ti₂ZrO₆), rutile, ilmenite, clinopyroxene, and apatite. The presence of shrilankite as an inclusion in garnets from assumed garnet–pyroxene rocks of the lower crust, lifted up by diamond-bearing kimberlite, allows it to be considered as an indicator mineral of kimberlite, which expands the possibilities when searching for kimberlite in the Arctic.